Richie Porte is a name that is inherently connected with the
Tour Down Under. The former pro, who has won the race several times and also won atop the Old Willunga Hill on many occasions, has shared his thoughts on the 2024 route and where the race should be decided.
This was in an analysis for GCN, where Porte took a look at all stages in this edition. His words on stage 5, which finished atop the Old Willunga Hill - which is back this year - are important, as someone who's triumphed there more times than anyone else. "Positioning is massive on the run-in to the climb and you have to burn some matches on the approach but you want your big, strong teammates, to put you near the front. There’s a huge fight and incredibly hectic with guys off in the gravel as they try and come through," he tells. "The first ascent is just ridden at tempo but the pace increases over the top."
This climb should be key in the race's outlook, being the toughest, but also having bonifications at the finale which coincides with the stage finish. "The hardest part of the climb is probably between 1.2km to go and the final 300m. That’s where you win it." However, race organizers this year have decided to combine Willunga with the final stage to Mount Lofty, which was the novelty of the 2023 route and still provided spectacle in the final day of racing. At the time, Simon Yates won the stage over Jay Vine, who conquered the ochre jersey.
"Lofty isn’t as hard as Willunga - and I’ve only done it in training - but you can make a difference and the worst thing would be going into the final day with a sense of complacency," the Australian said on the final stage where the race will end. "You have to remember, that even if the overall win is secure, you’re going to get riders fighting for the top ten because of the all-important WorldTour points. Teams will throw the kitchen sink at this stage. There’s almost 3,000m of climbing in less than 130km, so we’re going to get action from start to finish."
